Violence (song)

"Violence" is a song by Canadian musician Grimes and American DJ i_o. It was released on September 5, 2019, as the second single from her fifth studio album Miss Anthropocene.[1]

"Violence"
Single by Grimes and i_o
from the album Miss Anthropocene
ReleasedSeptember 5, 2019 (2019-09-05)
Genre
Length3:40
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Grimes
  • Garrett Lockhart
Grimes singles chronology
"Pretty Dark"
(2019)		 "Violence"
(2019)		 "So Heavy I Fell Through the Earth"
(2019)
i_o singles chronology
"Fatal Error"
(2018)		 "Violence"
(2019)
Alternate cover
Original single cover

Background

On September 3, 2019, the singer teased the release by posting a painting of an angelic figure whose hands touch a sword pierced into a planet resembling earth.[2] She also blanked the remainder of her Instagram page.[3] The post was accompanied by the caption "A new way to die! 2 days." which led publications to believe it would be the name of the song.[1] However, she clarified the actual song title a day later.[4] Another post in anticipation of the release read "There were Humans and Gods and nothing but Angels in between."[5]

Critical reception

Selim Bulut of Dazed Digital described the track as "a more ethereal piece of electro-pop, driven by a thumping kickdrum and synth arp bassline".[6] Jem Aswad at Variety spoke of the song as a "synth-driven, soft-focus collaboration with DJ i_o".[5] Writing for Uproxx, Derrick Rossignol noted that "it's an engaging piece of atmospheric but dance-ready electronic pop" and compared it to some of her previous works.[7] In his review of Grimes' album, Miss Anthropocene, Anna Richmond described "Violence" as a song about "an abusive relationship, [...] only understood as being sung by the actual Earth to the very crisis of climate change" and, sonically, "four-to-the-floor trance with a Madonna-esque vocal melody".[8] Rhian Daly of NME described the record as "pulsating, intergalactic rave-pop".[9] The song appeared on PAPER Magazine's list of the "10 Songs You Need To Start Your Weekend Right", where the writer, Michael Love Michael, described it as "a bouncy synthpop track that feels like equal parts Britney Spears club hit and PSA for toxic relationships and/or climate change".[10]

Music video

The music video for "Violence" was released through Grimes' YouTube channel alongside the song's official release on September 5, 2019.[11] It was directed by Grimes herself. The video begins with the singer reading The Art of War by Sun Tzu which would predict the outcome of the video.[12] Later on March 15, 2020, the cover of the book got censored due to copyright claims made by that specific edition publishing company. Grimes is then seen performing dances among a group of female warriors whose movements mimic war combats.[13] She is dressed in a "silver, futuristic dress" from Iris Van Herpen's fall 2019 couture collection throughout the video.[12] Variety compared the visuals to a "a supermodel session in the 1990s".[5] The video features choreography inspired by TikTok user Cindy,[14] and was filmed inside the Vibiana Cathedral.[15]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[16]

  • Grimes – vocals, production
  • Garrett Lockhart – production
  • Tom Norris – mixing

Charts
Chart (2019–2020) Peak
position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[17] 31
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[18] 19
gollark: I just want my pickaxe to mine a bit faster and magically repair itself.
gollark: Turtles *with* lasers, even.
gollark: We have turtles and lasers.
gollark: Ħmm, perhaps.
gollark: I doubt a reset would improve anything.

References
  1. Reilly, Nick (September 3, 2019). "Grimes confirms new single 'A New Day To Die' will arrive this week". NME. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  2. Kaufman, Gil (September 3, 2019). "Grimes Teases 'A New Way to Die' Single". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  3. Panzer, Natalia (September 3, 2019). "Grimes to release new music this Thursday". Fact Magazine. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  4. "Official press release for Violence - dropping tonight at midnight ! ⏰". Retrieved September 5, 2019 – via Instagram.
  5. Aswad, Jem (September 5, 2019). "Grimes Drops New Single and Video, 'Violence'". Variety. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  6. Bulut, Selim (September 5, 2019). "Grimes returns with a new single, 'Violence'". Dazed Digital. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  7. Rossignol, Derrick (September 5, 2019). "Grimes Sets War To Thumping Electronic Pop In Her New 'Violence' Video". Uproxx. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  8. Richmond, Anna (22 February 2020). "Review: Grimes' Miss Anthropocene Feels Both Deeply Personal and Communal". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  9. Daly, Rhian (February 20, 2020). "Grimes - 'Miss Anthropocene' review: an iconoclast continues to march to the beat of her own drum". NME. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  10. Michael Love Michael (6 September 2019). "Bops Only: 10 Songs You Need to Start Your Weekend Right". PAPER. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  11. Yoo, Noah (September 5, 2019). "Watch Grimes' Video for New Song "Violence"". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  12. Alston, Trey (September 5, 2019). "Grimes Commands a Legion of Ninjas in 'Violence'". MTV. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  13. Shaffer, Claire; Legaspi, Althea; Zemler, Emily (September 5, 2019). "Watch Grimes Learn the Art of War in 'Violence' Music Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  14. Sanchez, Chelsey (February 21, 2020). "Grimes's Dance for the "Violence" Music Video Was Inspired by This TikTok". Harper's Bazaar. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  15. "Grimes Talks "Violence" Music Video and Taking Inspiration From Bollywood and TikTok | Playback". YouTube. Feb 20, 2020.
  16. "Violence / Grimes and i_o". Tidal. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  17. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. September 16, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  18. "Grimes Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
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